Rejoice!

A Newsletter of Joseph United Methodist Church

Investing Our Treasure
with God

For the past couple of weeks, in our sermon series Treasure, we have looked at making God the center of our lives by investing our “treasure” with him. Treasure means more than money, though it includes that too. Treasure is our time, gifts/talents, and money.

We think that we will invest the most in the areas that are most important to our hearts. Jesus says the opposite. “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Mt 6:21).

Joseph United Methodist Church has been investing treasure in our infrastructure to allow us to be in mission to Joseph and the Wallowa County community for many years to come. We have received the final approval for our certificate of occupancy at the Place and are poised to begin to both host and send out ministry and mission to and for the community.

This past year we have been doing great things to help bring forth the Kingdom of God, and we are poised to make even greater strides in the coming year. Joseph United Methodist Church has a great passion for mission and service. It begins with projects such as the Magic Garden that helps to distribute food to the community and teach students about the cycle of life and God’s creation. The Children’s Christmas Store allows children from all over the community to have a special experience of the joy of giving without the worry about cost.

In February, we sent one of our biggest groups to the UMCOR Depot in Salt Lake City to make disaster relief kits, ready to go at a moment’s notice. We continue to offer a variety of Bible study classes and small groups to develop our faith walk and relationship with God, including the resumption of weekly Adult Sunday School at 9 am. These are just a small sampling. We have a benevolence fund to help people in our community, and we try to help and care for each other when needs arise. It is amazing what we can do when we work together in the name of Jesus Christ!

This Sunday, we will be looking at how we can give our treasure back to God. On August 28th, we will wrap up the series with a sermon titled “Don’t Worry ‘Bout a Thing.” On that date, you’ll be asked to make a commitment to God and Joseph UMC about how you will invest your treasure for the coming year. We do this for two reasons. First, it allows the church to plan accurately for ministries, since we can base our ministry budget on the dollar amount the people in our congregation plan to give. Second, the act of filling out a card is a way of inviting you to set a goal for giving during the coming year.

I know that some of you are struggling financially and may not be in a position to give right now. Know that we care, and if there is any way we can be of support to you—by praying with you, praying for you, talking with you, or providing other assistance—please contact us at jumc@eoni.com or (541) 432-3102.

First Sunday of the Month, Sept 4th
Collections for the Food Bank
and Imagine No Malaria

2nd Church Out of Church
On July 31st we had our second “Church Out of Church.” About fourteen of us went to Sharon Sherlock’s house to do some sprucing on the outside and the inside. It was exactly the right number of people for the space we had to work in, so we weren’t getting in each other’s way.

By the time we left, major weeding, mowing, and other landscape work had been done. The kitchen and laundry area smelled fresh and clean. We also invited the spiders living on the back porch to find a new home.

Sharon was so appreciative of everything we did, and we finished up the day with a picnic lunch from Subway sitting under a shady tree in Sharon’s front yard. A HUGE thank you to everyone who participated.

Save the date for our next 5th Sunday, Church Out of Church adventure on October 30th.

If you have an idea for a Church Out of Church project, please talk to Pastor Cherie in person, on the phone at 541-432-3201, or by email at jumc@eoni.com!

Church is not somewhere we go. Think of Church as something deployed.We are the Church.

Third Annual All County CHURCH PICNIC
at Wallowa Lake State Park

Please, bring your favorite side dish and drink to the Ice Lake Pavilion for a wonderful lunch at the lake. We are requesting a $2 donation per person. This covers renting of facility and a donation to Heavenly's who will again sponsor the event.

Wallowa County Ministerial Association

Think You Know Your Bible?

Which one is right? Which one is accurate? Which one is correct?

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman thatneedeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, aworker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctlyhandles the word of truth.”

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not
need to be ashamed, accurately handlingthe word of truth.”

(2Timothy 2:15 KJV, NASB, NIV)

If you’d like to have an answer, already know the answer, or even if you’re just curious, please consider joining a non-denominational, adult Bible study led by Major Rod Dearth USMC (Ret). The study is free, open to men and women, begins September 7, and meets in Joseph. It will meet Wednesday nights from 6:00 to 8:00.Refreshments provided.

For more information or to reserve your spot, please call: 541-398-8598
or contact the Church Office at 541-432-3102 or jumc@eoni.com.

United Methodist Women Meet Thursday, September 15th
Summer is not quite over, but the United Methodist Women are returning from summer vacation with their meeting on Sept 15th at 1:00 pm. Join us as Robin Martin presents a program on Herbs & Spices!

All women of the church are encouraged to be a part of United Methodist Women. The group meets on the third Thursday of every month except July and August. Our next meeting is Thursday, Sept 15that 1:00 pm.

Special Sunday School Outing on September 4th at 8:30 AM
Have you had a chance to join us for Adult Sunday School? We started off with a book study with The Big Read and have gone on to look at a variety of topics. We were considering future studies and topics when Janie Tippett suggested a walk to see God in nature. Mike Harvey immediately offered to host breakfast with a short walk to Iwetemlaykin Park.

To have enough time for breakfast, our walk, and to get back in time for worship at 10:00 am, we will be starting a little early at 8:30 am. (Yes, we need to get the pastor back in time for worship!) For more details, join us at Sunday School at our regular time of 9:00 am, or contact Pastor Cherie at the Church Office at 541-432-3102 or jumc@eoni.com.

We Are Getting a New Bishop on September 1st

Upon the recommendation of the Committee on Episcopacy, the Western Jurisdiction has assigned Bishop Elaine Stanovsky to Greater Northwest area for the 2016-2020 quadrennium.

Elected in the episcopacy in 2008 by the Western Jurisdiction, she has served for eight years in the Mountain Sky Area of The United Methodist Church. While leading the church there she has made significant connections with the Native American community of the area and been

a champion inside and outside the church for reconciliation with Native People and providing an honest telling of the history of the atrocities done in the name of the church.

Jan Nelson, Oregon-Idaho Conference Lay Leader and a member of the Episcopacy Committee shared these thoughts on the assignment, “I wish Bishop Hagiya the best in his new assignment, and I am excited to welcome Bishop Stanovsky to ministry with us in Oregon-Idaho and in the episcopal area. It will be a pleasure to help her get to know our conference and to help our members get acquainted with her. I am confident we all will do exciting ministry together.

Rev. Carlo Rapanut, Superintendent of the Alaska Annual Conference reflected, “We look forward to working with Bishop Elaine and look forward to welcoming her to the Alaska Conference.”

Being from and having served as a pastor and district superintendent in the Pacific Northwest, “Bishop Elaine will bring innate knowledge of the Greater Northwest culture; there are many things about us and the communities we serve that she won’t have to learn.” Offered Rev. Craig Parrish, “She has a deep care for clergy and for the churches that serve as beacons of God’s love. Bishop Elaine has a justice mind and heart that will serve our area well.”

Bishop Grant Hagiya is moving to the California-Pacific Annual Conference. We will greatly miss him.

You are Invited to Worship with Us on Sunday Mornings at 10:00 AM.
Adult Sunday School at 9:00 AM.